The Golden Joystick Awards 2024, celebrating gaming excellence since 1983, unveiled its nominees across numerous categories, notably introducing a new bracket for self-developed and published indie games. The 42nd annual awards ceremony, scheduled for November 21st, 2024, will honor games released between November 11th, 2023, and October 4th, 2024. This year showcases a strong indie presence, with titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes receiving multiple nominations.
A total of 19 categories comprise the awards, highlighting the growing significance of indie game development. The new "Best Indie Game - Self Published" category specifically recognizes smaller teams without major publisher backing. This reflects the evolving landscape of game creation, embracing a broader definition of "indie" and acknowledging developers operating outside traditional publishing structures.
The nominees are diverse, spanning various genres and platforms. Here's a glimpse into some key categories:
-
Best Soundtrack: A Highland Song, Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Hauntii, Silent Hill 2, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
-
Best Indie Game: Animal Well, Arco, Balatro, Beyond Galaxyland, Conscript, Indika, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Thank Goodness You’re Here!, The Plucky Squire, Ultros
-
Console Game of the Year: Astro Bot, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
(A complete list of nominees across all categories is available in the original article.)
Fan voting is now open on the official website, with the jury comprising prominent gaming publications like PC Gamer, GamesRadar, and Edge magazine. The voting period for the Ultimate Game of the Year (UGOTY) category will commence later. The UGOTY shortlist will be revealed on November 4th, with voting running from November 4th to 8th, 2024. Games released between October 4th and November 21st, 2024, remain eligible for Best Performance and UGOTY awards.
Voting participants can claim a free ebook as a reward.
Controversy has arisen regarding the omission of certain fan-favorite titles, such as Black Myth: Wukong, from the initial Game of the Year nominations. The Golden Joystick Awards clarified that the UGOTY shortlist is yet to be released, addressing concerns about perceived snubs. The organization emphasized that the final UGOTY nominations will be announced on November 4th.
